I was just finishing the first half of this project when another fellow asked about this sort of thing. Here's what works for me.
For a numbering system, if you have DCC, consider the conventions your DCC system uses. I think NCE requires double-digit accessory addresses to address remote control turnouts inside its system. Most of mine have been in for awhile, most are two digits and couple are 3 digits. All remote control turnouts are marked with the number on a rectangular tag.
The square remote turnout IDs share an attribute with a manual turnout control indicators I've used for some time. Both are placed on the side of the turnout the points are against when the route through the turnout is Normal. A friend has his marked on the side of the Normal route. Doesn't really matter so long as you're consistent.
I make manual turnout route indicators with a short pin painted black on which one green bead and two brown beads are stacked and glued to resemble a low-level switchstand. There are several along the yard lead in this pic.
Since I have a control panel marked with the locations clearly right under the yard, the locations of the turnouts in it are obvious enough even for new operators.
There are lots of places where this works, but many where the relationship between the turnout and its control is less clear. One of my operators, Rick Schroeder, suggested adding some sort of ID system to help new operators learn the territory more easily. So this is what I came up with, with Rick's survey team shown here working around an example.
Basically, it's an upgraded version of my earlier "switchstands." I print out the numbers from my label maker, apply them to .010 plastic sheeting, then use a hole punch to make the "targets" by punching out each number.
Here are the parts lined up...the balsa block makes it easy to paint the pins black.
And made into a set of what I call turnout register number indicators.
I wanted single digit numbers for easy viewing. It's OK for them to repeat and I use the frame and underline features on the label maker to create slightly different versions to indicate the series restarting. I also use zero, not shown here. What's important is to make it easy to tie a control to the turnout it is connected to, not to give each turnout a unique number. Here's another example.
I used a number jungle to get the corresponding number onto the control or next to it on a label.
This one has several examples of where the register number is placed on or near the control.
Here's another group, low key visually, but makes it easy to identify the proper control.
Not that the last two on the right are both 9. One is underlined, however. I needed an extra number here, so decided to do it like this to see if anyone is paying attention.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I will not rest until we hear from doctorwayne. My suspicion is that he has the best and last answer to this question.
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich,
Perhaps, as Dr. Wayne always has some good stuff.
On the other hand, he may well be like me before Rick's helpful suggestion. IIRC, Wayne operates alone much of the time, so he'd be like me before recently. If you know which control is connected with which turnout, there's not much need to differentiate anything other than Normal and Reverse route through the turnout.
The turnout register system is meant to help those unfamiliar with the layout, as the owner already knows pretty much the info it's conveying.
Sorry, Rich, but I have only one motorised turnout, and it's located under the bridge in this not-very-close-view:
This track is a wye, and both electrical switches on the fascia are simultaneously thrown either left or right for a locomotive to enter or leave on either the left or right track. The tail track dead-ends at the corner of the room.
I hope to soon add a few more remotely-controlled turnouts, but they're ones already on the lower level of the partially double-decked layout, and have been made almost unuseable by installation of the upper level - I can reach the Caboose Industries ground throws, but there are about 10 which are more-or-less blocked by structures or scenic details. My plan is for manually remote control, with a simple label on the fascia indicating the selected route - not very sophisticated or applicable for most uses, I'd guess.
Wayne
doctorwayne Sorry, Rich, but I have only one motorised turnout, and it's located under the bridge in this not-very-close-view:
richhotrain ahh, Wayne, I had hoped for so much more. Rich
ahh, Wayne, I had hoped for so much more.
Wayne, I am about to click on the Report Abuse icon on the bottom left.
Gee, Rich, I was just tryin' to cheer ya up.
There is only one thing that can cheer me up, Wayne.
I must have Bertram's Machine Tool Works.
Back to Mike's topic.
I don't physically number the turnouts, but I do identify the turnouts by number on my control panels. Here is my downtown passenger station control panel.
This is an excellent topic. Well done for solutions.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
Thanks, Lynn
I'm a track schematic guy. I run most of my turnouts from control panels distributed around the layout. I have half a dozen run by DCC which I've numbered 11-16. I wanted to try the technology and the option of throttle control, but I don't find it all that attractive. But, that's my own preference.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
mlehman I think NCE requires double-digit accessory addresses to address remote control turnouts inside its system.
Double digit accessory addresses are not required with the NCE system. You may use 1 through 9 if you choose to. As a matter of fact, the default addresses for a NCE Switch-It are 1 and 2.
OK, not exactly like most of us are going to run out of addresses.
If that's (1 + 2) the default for the Switch-It, I suspect that may instead be why I avoided the single digit range. I grouped mine by location and none (so far) have more than 10 in each place (10s, 20s, 30, up through the 60s). I wouldn't have skipped to start at 3 to avoid using 1 or 2, too confusing for me, so probably skipped to the double digit range to start clean at 10.
Best I can reconstruct, that likely what I actually did, just couldn't remember the exact logic of why, but I think the Switch-It issue sounds familiar.
MisterBeasley I'm a track schematic guy. I run most of my turnouts from control panels distributed around the layout. I have half a dozen run by DCC which I've numbered 11-16. I wanted to try the technology and the option of throttle control, but I don't find it all that attractive. But, that's my own preference.
I can see that. I've actually got mixed feelings about them, but just not enough panel space or right viewing angle to do everything on panels. and my ops will tell you the panels I do have aren't the best. Someday I'll upgrade them, but the real estate is pretty much one of my limits.
Something that I didn't mention is that all the remote controlled turnouts are on either the standard or dual gauge parts of the layout, so in a sense they differ from the narrowgauge parts in that those are all done with by electricty or a manual throw. There's also the way the dispatcher is set up to manage those in case one of the ops can't follow the keystrokes to do it themselves. So there are some specific reasons why it works well here.
One should avoid using default addresses for anything actually live on the layout whenever possible. It may work now, but then you go and add a second board and attempt to program it - and accidently reprogram the one that was working.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker One should avoid using default addresses for anything actually live on the layout whenever possible. It may work now, but then you go and add a second board and attempt to program it - and accidently reprogram the one that was working. --Randy
Oh, I agree. I was merely pointing out that single digit addresses could be used if wanted.
So far as re-programming already programmed accessory decoders goes, that can't happen with the Switch-It because you have to install a jumper to do the programming. But in general, it is wise to use other than default addresses.
While I run my trains in DCC, I like to have push button control panels stragically placed around the layout. My switches are Atlas and in the yard I used milepost markers to identify the switches for each ladder of the freight yard.